Friday, April 3
Manhattan, Kan.
6 p.m.
Kansas State University
vs
TCU
Wildcats Return to Tointon Family Stadium Take on TCU
Apr 02, 2026 | Baseball
MANHATTAN, Kan. – K-State, coming off its seventh run-rule victory of the season, returns to Manhattan to host TCU in a three-game Big 12 series, starting Friday at 6 p.m. CT at Tointon Family Stadium. Saturday's game is scheduled for a 4 p.m. first pitch, while Sunday's series finale is at 1 p.m.
The three-game set can be seen on ESPN+ and the ESPN app, while a free live streaming audio is available for all games at KStateSports.com/watch and on the K-State Sports app.
How to follow the Cats: For complete information on K-State Baseball, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.
GAME #30
K-State (19-10, 4-5 Big 12) vs. TCU (18-10, 5-4 Big 12)
Friday, April 3 // 6 PM CT // Tointon Family Stadium // Manhattan, KS
Projected Starters: RHP James Guyette (4-1, 5.35 ERA) vs. LHP Mason Brassfield (3-2, 7.57 ERA)
Watch: ESPN+ // Brian Smoller, Mike Clark, Sophie Smith
Radio: KMAN // Matt Walters, Wyatt Thompson
Listen: kstatesports.com/watch
Live Stats: kstate.statbroadcast.com
GAME #31
K-State (19-10, 4-5 Big 12) vs. TCU (18-10, 5-4 Big 12)
Saturday, April 4 // 4 PM CT // Tointon Family Stadium // Manhattan, KS
Projected Starters: LHP Lincoln Sheffield (5-0, 4.75 ERA) vs. RHP Lance Davis (1-3, 6.99 ERA)
Watch: ESPN+ // Brian Smoller, Mike Clark, Sophie Smith
Radio: KMAN // Matt Walters, Wyatt Thompson
Listen: kstatesports.com/watch
Live Stats: kstate.statbroadcast.com
GAME #32
K-State (19-10, 4-5 Big 12) vs. TCU (18-10, 5-4 Big 12)
Sunday, April 5 // 1 PM CT // Tointon Family Stadium // Manhattan, KS
Projected Starters: TBA vs. TBA
Watch: ESPN+ // Brian Smoller, Mike Clark, Sophie Smith
Radio: KMAN // Matt Walters, Wyatt Thompson
Listen: kstatesports.com/watch
Live Stats: kstate.statbroadcast.com
FOLLOW THE CATS
The three-game series with TCU will broadcast on ESPN+ and the ESPN app … A free live streaming audio is available for all games at KStateSports.com/watch and on the K-State Sports app ... Fans can also follow along opening weekend action through live stats by visiting the team's schedule page or on the Cats social media platforms (@KStateBSB).
A LOOK AT K-STATE
After a series loss at Utah, the Wildcats rebounded and improved to 19-10 overall with their seventh run-rule victory of the season, defeating BYU 16-3 Tuesday, while they enter the weekend series with a 4-5 mark in conference play … At BYU, K-State scored 16 runs on 17 hits, committed no errors and stranded just five runners on base … Eight players contributed a hit for K-State, including six with multiple … Shintaro Inoue, Dee Kennedy and Cadyn Karl each produced three-hit games, while Kennedy and AJ Evasco each produced a game-leading five RBI … Four Wildcats homered – Grant Gallagher, Kennedy (2), Carlos Vasquez and Evasco (2) … Left-hander Robert Fortenberry went three innings in his first start at K-State, allowing one earned run on one hit with one walk and three strikeouts … Austin Haley (2-0) received the victory in relief of Fortenberry, scattering two earned runs on four hits over 2 2/3 innings, while Aaron Arnold logged two shutout innings and allowed two hits with three strikeouts.
THE WILDCAT ROTATION
Friday: James Guyette (4-1, 5.35 ERA) leads the pitching staff with a season-high 47 strikeouts, ranking fifth in the Big 12 … He has punched out a career-high eight in three starts this season.
Saturday: Lincoln Sheffield (5-0, 4.75 ERA) leads the conference and is fifth in the nation in victories (5), while averaging 2.00 walks allowed per nine innings – the third-best mark in the conference.
Sunday: TBA
SCOUTING TCU
TCU (18-10, 5-4 Big 12) brings a five-game winning streak to Manhattan, that includes a Big 12 series sweep of Texas Tech last weekend … The Horned Frogs are in a four-way tie for fourth in the league standings … TCU is slashing .265/.410/.342 as a team, led by Sawer Strosnider's .333 average … The sophomore outfielder was one of four Big 12 players featured on the Golden Spikes Award and Baseball America Midseason Watch Lists … The Frogs have recorded a conference-leading 189 walks this season, ranking fifth overall in the country … He was also named a Second Team Midseason All-American by Perfect Game … TCU hit 10 home runs over the weekend against TTU, bringing its season total to 33 ... LHP Mason Brassfield (3-2, 7.57 ERA) gets the nod for Friday's series opener, while RHP Lance Davis (1-3, 6.99 ERA) will start Saturday's middle game, each making their eighth starts of the year … Brassfield leads the staff with 38 strikeouts, while Davis is second in the league in walks allowed per nine innings (1.91).
INSIDE THE SERIES
TCU owns a 33-15 (23-11 Big 12) advantage in the all-time series that dates back to 1966 ... The Frogs have won seven of the last 10 meetings in the series, while the Wildcats picked up a 1-2 non-conference victory last season at the College Baseball Series at Globe Life Field ... In games played in Manhattan, the two squads are evenly matched with the series tied 9-9 … The Cats have never swept the Frogs in the series history.
LAST FIVE MEETINGS
L, 0-12 – April 26, 2024 (Fort Worth)
L, 4-7 – April 27, 2024 (Fort Worth)
W, 6-3 – April 27, 2024 (Fort Worth)
L, 4-9 – May 23, 2024 (Arlington)
W, 10-2 – February 23, 2025 (Arlington)
HEAVY HITTERS
K-State has proven to be one of the most deadly offenses in the country, ranking within the nation's top 10 in numerous categories … K-State is second in the country in doubles (82) and fourth in slugging percentage (.593), fourth in total runs scored (289), sixth in scoring (10 runs per game) and posts the eighth-best batting average at .330 … The team's 53 home runs rank 11th overall among all Division I programs, while also ranking 15th with a .438 on-base percentage … Nine starters are hitting over .300 (min. 20 games).
NATIONAL CATCHER OF THE WEEK
Bear Madliak earned his first weekly award Tuesday, as the redshirt senior was named the Buster Posey National Catcher of the Week by the College Baseball Foundation … Becomes the first Wildcat in program history to earn the national honor and the first Big 12 player to receive national recognition this season … He delivered a standout performance in week seven, leading the offense with a .533 average (8-for-15) with three doubles and three home runs, while posting a team-leading 1.921 OPS ... He also recorded a team-high 1.333 slugging percentage, which ranked second in the Big 12 and eighth nationally among Division I players ... Finished the week with eight RBI and seven runs scored, ranking fourth and fifth in the Big 12, respectively ... His three home runs, which averaged 426-feet per blast, ranked sixth nationally.
BIG MAN ON CAMPUS
Junior shortstop Dee Kennedy was named to the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List, which honors the nation's top amateur player, the organization announced Thursday ... In addition to his selection, the Fort Worth, Texas, product earned First Team Midseason All-American honors by D1Baseball and Perfect Game … Kennedy becomes the fifth Wildcat in school history to earn a spot on the midseason watch list and marks the third consecutive season K-State has had a player recognized … Additionally, Kennedy was named to the Baseball America Midseason Player of the Year Watch List … Leads the nation in total runs scored (46) and ranks second in slugging percentage (.971), third in RBI (48), fifth in total bases (101), eighth in home runs, ninth in on-base percentage (.558) and ninth in batting average ... Kennedy has recorded a team-high 14 multi-RBI games, including four with five or more RBI, and ranks second on the team with 13 multi-hit performances.
CATS IN THE BIG 12
With a 4-5 mark in league action, the Wildcats are hitting .373 as a team, outscoring opponents 103-83 … Three of four conference victories came in run-rule fashion … Kennedy leads the offense hitting .531 in league games, while Carlos Vasquez has posted a team-high 19 RBI… Nine hitters are hitting over .300 in conference games … K-State is 17-for-23 on the bases led by five stolen bases from Kennedy.
WINNING TIME
In K-State's 19 wins this season, the Wildcats are hitting .423 with runners in scoring position and .343 with two outs ... Conversely, the Cats have a .311 average with runners in scoring position while hitting .270 with two outs over 10 losses ... K-State has produced 85 two-out RBI in victories with 21 coming in losses... Overall, K-State hits .361 in victories against just .275 in defeats ... In 10 losses, K-State pitchers have combined for a 1.82 strikeout-to-walk ratio while in victories the staff has a 2.96 K/BB ratio.
CAN'T TOUCH THIS
K-State has recorded the fourth-most stolen bases in the Big 12 with 52, ranking 62nd nationally … The Cats are 52-for-69 on the bases with a 75.4% success rate … Dee Kennedy is second in the league with 15 stolen bases and sits at No. 49 among all Division I players … He surpassed his career mark against Baylor, registering his second consecutive season with 10+ stolen bases.
AROUND THE LEAGUE
UCF leads the Big 12 standings with an 8-1 league record followed by West Virginia (7-2) and KU (6-3), while four schools tied fourth with a 5-4 record … Arizona State's Landon Hairston (player) was joined by Kansas' duo of Mathis Nayral (pitcher) and Tyson LeBlanc (newcomer) as the Big 12 Baseball Players of the Week for Week 7 of the 2026 season.
INNING SURGES
K-State scored 14 runs in the top of the seventh vs. Penn State at the MLB Desert Invitational – its largest single-inning run production in K-State recorded history ... The Wildcats have scored four or more runs in 26 innings this season … The Wildcats have hit through the order 21 times this season, sending a season-high 18 to the plate in the team's 14-run seventh against Penn State (February 15).
CATS SCRATCH FIRST
The Wildcats are 141-62 when scoring first against opponents under head coach Pete Hughes … In 2026, the Wildcats are 13-4 when scoring first, including a 8-3 record when scoring in the first innings … Last season, K-State was 20-10 when scoring first, while compiling a 14-9 record when scoring in the first inning.
POWER SUPPLY
K-State has recorded 53 home runs this season led by 14 from Kennedy, who is the fastest player to reach double-digit home runs under Hughes … Kennedy is fourth in the Big 12 in home runs, ranking eighth nationally … 13 of 17 hitters have registered a home run this season, including 10 with two or more this season … The Wildcats recorded a school record of eight home runs in a 20-7 victory against SIUE (March 8) … Home runs account for 101 of 267 RBI (38%) on the season … The team's 53 homers rank second in the Big 12 and 11th nationally, while the Cats post the country's fourth-best slugging percentage at .593 … Kennedy leads with two grand slams followed by Evasco and Vasquez with one … K-State has recorded two back-to-back home run performances in 2026, while five different players have multi-home run efforts: Kennedy, Smolinski, Madliak, Vasquez, Kendrick.
WELCOME TO TOINTON
The Wildcats turned in the best home record of any Big 12 team in 2025, finishing with a record of 18-3 (.857) – the program's second-best home winning percentage … K-State posted a school record .870 winning percentage 20-3 in 1987 … K-State baseball is 438-226 when playing at Tointon Family Stadium since its rededication in 2002 … In the Hughes era, K-State is 128-49 when playing at Tointon, posting a .723 winning percentage … Since 2021, the Cats are 110-36 (.754) when playing at home.
The three-game set can be seen on ESPN+ and the ESPN app, while a free live streaming audio is available for all games at KStateSports.com/watch and on the K-State Sports app.
How to follow the Cats: For complete information on K-State Baseball, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.
GAME #30
K-State (19-10, 4-5 Big 12) vs. TCU (18-10, 5-4 Big 12)
Friday, April 3 // 6 PM CT // Tointon Family Stadium // Manhattan, KS
Projected Starters: RHP James Guyette (4-1, 5.35 ERA) vs. LHP Mason Brassfield (3-2, 7.57 ERA)
Watch: ESPN+ // Brian Smoller, Mike Clark, Sophie Smith
Radio: KMAN // Matt Walters, Wyatt Thompson
Listen: kstatesports.com/watch
Live Stats: kstate.statbroadcast.com
GAME #31
K-State (19-10, 4-5 Big 12) vs. TCU (18-10, 5-4 Big 12)
Saturday, April 4 // 4 PM CT // Tointon Family Stadium // Manhattan, KS
Projected Starters: LHP Lincoln Sheffield (5-0, 4.75 ERA) vs. RHP Lance Davis (1-3, 6.99 ERA)
Watch: ESPN+ // Brian Smoller, Mike Clark, Sophie Smith
Radio: KMAN // Matt Walters, Wyatt Thompson
Listen: kstatesports.com/watch
Live Stats: kstate.statbroadcast.com
GAME #32
K-State (19-10, 4-5 Big 12) vs. TCU (18-10, 5-4 Big 12)
Sunday, April 5 // 1 PM CT // Tointon Family Stadium // Manhattan, KS
Projected Starters: TBA vs. TBA
Watch: ESPN+ // Brian Smoller, Mike Clark, Sophie Smith
Radio: KMAN // Matt Walters, Wyatt Thompson
Listen: kstatesports.com/watch
Live Stats: kstate.statbroadcast.com
FOLLOW THE CATS
The three-game series with TCU will broadcast on ESPN+ and the ESPN app … A free live streaming audio is available for all games at KStateSports.com/watch and on the K-State Sports app ... Fans can also follow along opening weekend action through live stats by visiting the team's schedule page or on the Cats social media platforms (@KStateBSB).
A LOOK AT K-STATE
After a series loss at Utah, the Wildcats rebounded and improved to 19-10 overall with their seventh run-rule victory of the season, defeating BYU 16-3 Tuesday, while they enter the weekend series with a 4-5 mark in conference play … At BYU, K-State scored 16 runs on 17 hits, committed no errors and stranded just five runners on base … Eight players contributed a hit for K-State, including six with multiple … Shintaro Inoue, Dee Kennedy and Cadyn Karl each produced three-hit games, while Kennedy and AJ Evasco each produced a game-leading five RBI … Four Wildcats homered – Grant Gallagher, Kennedy (2), Carlos Vasquez and Evasco (2) … Left-hander Robert Fortenberry went three innings in his first start at K-State, allowing one earned run on one hit with one walk and three strikeouts … Austin Haley (2-0) received the victory in relief of Fortenberry, scattering two earned runs on four hits over 2 2/3 innings, while Aaron Arnold logged two shutout innings and allowed two hits with three strikeouts.
THE WILDCAT ROTATION
Friday: James Guyette (4-1, 5.35 ERA) leads the pitching staff with a season-high 47 strikeouts, ranking fifth in the Big 12 … He has punched out a career-high eight in three starts this season.
Saturday: Lincoln Sheffield (5-0, 4.75 ERA) leads the conference and is fifth in the nation in victories (5), while averaging 2.00 walks allowed per nine innings – the third-best mark in the conference.
Sunday: TBA
SCOUTING TCU
TCU (18-10, 5-4 Big 12) brings a five-game winning streak to Manhattan, that includes a Big 12 series sweep of Texas Tech last weekend … The Horned Frogs are in a four-way tie for fourth in the league standings … TCU is slashing .265/.410/.342 as a team, led by Sawer Strosnider's .333 average … The sophomore outfielder was one of four Big 12 players featured on the Golden Spikes Award and Baseball America Midseason Watch Lists … The Frogs have recorded a conference-leading 189 walks this season, ranking fifth overall in the country … He was also named a Second Team Midseason All-American by Perfect Game … TCU hit 10 home runs over the weekend against TTU, bringing its season total to 33 ... LHP Mason Brassfield (3-2, 7.57 ERA) gets the nod for Friday's series opener, while RHP Lance Davis (1-3, 6.99 ERA) will start Saturday's middle game, each making their eighth starts of the year … Brassfield leads the staff with 38 strikeouts, while Davis is second in the league in walks allowed per nine innings (1.91).
INSIDE THE SERIES
TCU owns a 33-15 (23-11 Big 12) advantage in the all-time series that dates back to 1966 ... The Frogs have won seven of the last 10 meetings in the series, while the Wildcats picked up a 1-2 non-conference victory last season at the College Baseball Series at Globe Life Field ... In games played in Manhattan, the two squads are evenly matched with the series tied 9-9 … The Cats have never swept the Frogs in the series history.
LAST FIVE MEETINGS
L, 0-12 – April 26, 2024 (Fort Worth)
L, 4-7 – April 27, 2024 (Fort Worth)
W, 6-3 – April 27, 2024 (Fort Worth)
L, 4-9 – May 23, 2024 (Arlington)
W, 10-2 – February 23, 2025 (Arlington)
HEAVY HITTERS
K-State has proven to be one of the most deadly offenses in the country, ranking within the nation's top 10 in numerous categories … K-State is second in the country in doubles (82) and fourth in slugging percentage (.593), fourth in total runs scored (289), sixth in scoring (10 runs per game) and posts the eighth-best batting average at .330 … The team's 53 home runs rank 11th overall among all Division I programs, while also ranking 15th with a .438 on-base percentage … Nine starters are hitting over .300 (min. 20 games).
NATIONAL CATCHER OF THE WEEK
Bear Madliak earned his first weekly award Tuesday, as the redshirt senior was named the Buster Posey National Catcher of the Week by the College Baseball Foundation … Becomes the first Wildcat in program history to earn the national honor and the first Big 12 player to receive national recognition this season … He delivered a standout performance in week seven, leading the offense with a .533 average (8-for-15) with three doubles and three home runs, while posting a team-leading 1.921 OPS ... He also recorded a team-high 1.333 slugging percentage, which ranked second in the Big 12 and eighth nationally among Division I players ... Finished the week with eight RBI and seven runs scored, ranking fourth and fifth in the Big 12, respectively ... His three home runs, which averaged 426-feet per blast, ranked sixth nationally.
BIG MAN ON CAMPUS
Junior shortstop Dee Kennedy was named to the USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List, which honors the nation's top amateur player, the organization announced Thursday ... In addition to his selection, the Fort Worth, Texas, product earned First Team Midseason All-American honors by D1Baseball and Perfect Game … Kennedy becomes the fifth Wildcat in school history to earn a spot on the midseason watch list and marks the third consecutive season K-State has had a player recognized … Additionally, Kennedy was named to the Baseball America Midseason Player of the Year Watch List … Leads the nation in total runs scored (46) and ranks second in slugging percentage (.971), third in RBI (48), fifth in total bases (101), eighth in home runs, ninth in on-base percentage (.558) and ninth in batting average ... Kennedy has recorded a team-high 14 multi-RBI games, including four with five or more RBI, and ranks second on the team with 13 multi-hit performances.
CATS IN THE BIG 12
With a 4-5 mark in league action, the Wildcats are hitting .373 as a team, outscoring opponents 103-83 … Three of four conference victories came in run-rule fashion … Kennedy leads the offense hitting .531 in league games, while Carlos Vasquez has posted a team-high 19 RBI… Nine hitters are hitting over .300 in conference games … K-State is 17-for-23 on the bases led by five stolen bases from Kennedy.
WINNING TIME
In K-State's 19 wins this season, the Wildcats are hitting .423 with runners in scoring position and .343 with two outs ... Conversely, the Cats have a .311 average with runners in scoring position while hitting .270 with two outs over 10 losses ... K-State has produced 85 two-out RBI in victories with 21 coming in losses... Overall, K-State hits .361 in victories against just .275 in defeats ... In 10 losses, K-State pitchers have combined for a 1.82 strikeout-to-walk ratio while in victories the staff has a 2.96 K/BB ratio.
CAN'T TOUCH THIS
K-State has recorded the fourth-most stolen bases in the Big 12 with 52, ranking 62nd nationally … The Cats are 52-for-69 on the bases with a 75.4% success rate … Dee Kennedy is second in the league with 15 stolen bases and sits at No. 49 among all Division I players … He surpassed his career mark against Baylor, registering his second consecutive season with 10+ stolen bases.
AROUND THE LEAGUE
UCF leads the Big 12 standings with an 8-1 league record followed by West Virginia (7-2) and KU (6-3), while four schools tied fourth with a 5-4 record … Arizona State's Landon Hairston (player) was joined by Kansas' duo of Mathis Nayral (pitcher) and Tyson LeBlanc (newcomer) as the Big 12 Baseball Players of the Week for Week 7 of the 2026 season.
INNING SURGES
K-State scored 14 runs in the top of the seventh vs. Penn State at the MLB Desert Invitational – its largest single-inning run production in K-State recorded history ... The Wildcats have scored four or more runs in 26 innings this season … The Wildcats have hit through the order 21 times this season, sending a season-high 18 to the plate in the team's 14-run seventh against Penn State (February 15).
CATS SCRATCH FIRST
The Wildcats are 141-62 when scoring first against opponents under head coach Pete Hughes … In 2026, the Wildcats are 13-4 when scoring first, including a 8-3 record when scoring in the first innings … Last season, K-State was 20-10 when scoring first, while compiling a 14-9 record when scoring in the first inning.
POWER SUPPLY
K-State has recorded 53 home runs this season led by 14 from Kennedy, who is the fastest player to reach double-digit home runs under Hughes … Kennedy is fourth in the Big 12 in home runs, ranking eighth nationally … 13 of 17 hitters have registered a home run this season, including 10 with two or more this season … The Wildcats recorded a school record of eight home runs in a 20-7 victory against SIUE (March 8) … Home runs account for 101 of 267 RBI (38%) on the season … The team's 53 homers rank second in the Big 12 and 11th nationally, while the Cats post the country's fourth-best slugging percentage at .593 … Kennedy leads with two grand slams followed by Evasco and Vasquez with one … K-State has recorded two back-to-back home run performances in 2026, while five different players have multi-home run efforts: Kennedy, Smolinski, Madliak, Vasquez, Kendrick.
WELCOME TO TOINTON
The Wildcats turned in the best home record of any Big 12 team in 2025, finishing with a record of 18-3 (.857) – the program's second-best home winning percentage … K-State posted a school record .870 winning percentage 20-3 in 1987 … K-State baseball is 438-226 when playing at Tointon Family Stadium since its rededication in 2002 … In the Hughes era, K-State is 128-49 when playing at Tointon, posting a .723 winning percentage … Since 2021, the Cats are 110-36 (.754) when playing at home.
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